Kenneth City, Florida -- Kenneth City Police placed a man behind bars after they say he hid inside his ex-girlfriend's home, battered her and her boyfriend and then continued the violence as he held her hostage.

Officials say they were called to the Clearview Oaks Condos, where they found Nicholas Matthews -- the female victim's current boyfriend -- outside with a swollen, bloody forehead.

Matthews told police his girlfriend's ex, 20-year-old Preston Meierhoff of Largo, broke into the condo and hid in the bedroom, waiting for them to get home. He then allegedly attacked and battered Matthews and kicked him out.

Matthews said Meierhoff made the woman stay inside with him against her will. Matthews claims Meierhoff actually did the same thing to his ex-girlfriend a couple of weeks earlier. She was reportedly able to escape back then, but was unable to do so without law enforcement this time around.

Police say Meierhoff was sexually attacking the victim when they arrived on scene. Officers forced their way into the home and found Meierhoff hiding in the closet.

He was arrested and taken into custody on charges of battery, sexual battery, burglary to a residence and false imprisonment.